Means for modifying the action of strikers in mechanism for playing keyboard instruments.



,958. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

R. W. PAIN. MEANS FOR MODIFYING THE ACTION OFSTRIKERS IN MECHANISM FOR IPLAYING KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 24, 1901.

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WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

'PATENT' OFFICE.

ItOBERT WILLIARD PAIN, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIAN CO.,OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

I MEANS FOR MODIFYING THE ACTION OF STRIKERS IN MECHANISM FOR PLAYINGKEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. "7 30,958, dated June16, 1903.

Application filed December 24,1901. Serial No. 87,061. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whmn it may concern.-

e- Beitknown that LROBERTIVILLIARD PAIN, of the borough of Manhattan,city,county, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Means for Modifying the Action of Strikers in Mechanismsfor Playing Keyboard Instruments, of which the following is aspecification.

This improvement relates to mechanisms for playing keyboard instruments,more par- -tieularly pianos.

The object of the improvement is to provide for variations ofexpression.

My invention consists in means for carrying out the above object, havingthe general construction substantially as hereinafter fullydescribed,,-and shown in the accompanying specification and drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top View of certain parts ofa mechanism embodying my improvement and intended for playing a keyboardmusical instrument. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional elevationof the parts necessary to illustrate my improvement.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in bothfigures.

A designates a number of strikers which are supported in a case at suchheight that 0 they may extend over the keys of a keyboard instrument. Itwill be seen in Fig. 1 that some are longer than others. This isnecessary so that they may act upon the black as L well as upon thewhite keys. In the present instance these strikers are made in the formof bell-crank levers fulcrumed upon a pin or pins to a fixed part of thecase. The upper arms extend horizontally over the keys of the instrumentto be played, while the 0 lower extend vertically downward to beoperated by motors B. These motors B are of bellows-like constructionand communicate internally with means whereby different pneumaticpressures may be established within them. These means may consist simplyof suitable ducts connected with suction-bellows and appurtenantchambers. The movable board of each of these motors B is connected tothe vertical arm of one of the striker-levers. This connection may beadvantageously made by means of a rod screw-threaded near the ends toreceive nuts.

Adjacent to the strikers are retarder-s C. Each is to operate on onestriker only. These retarders are shown as pneumaticand of bellows likeconstruction. Their immovable boards are fastened to the under side of arail D, extending across the strikers at some distance therefrom. Twoopenings 0 c are afforded for communication between the interior of eachretarder and the atmosphere. One of these openings 0 is provided with avalve 0 operating automatically and consisting of a piece of sheepskinor similar material fastened at its two ends, so that it will cross theopenings 0, but will be free to rise away from the same. The movableboard of each retarder is fastened in any suitable manner to an adjacentstriker. The means shown for making the connection consists of a screw0, passing through an extension of the movable board of the retarder andengaging with the striker. The other opening 0 of the retarder ispreferably larger and is controlled by a slide-valve 0 consisting of aplate having a hole which may be brought into line with the said openingor shifted out of line therewith.

A single plate may constitute valves 0 for a number of retarders, andthis has been illustrated. Such aplate is connected bya pin a with alever 0 fulcru med between its ends to a pin 0 and connected at theother end to a rod 0 which is shown as extending to a position where itmay be conveniently manipulated.

WVhen the valve 0 of any retarder is open, that retarder will have noeffect upon the striker with which it is combined; but when such valve 0is closed the striker with'which the retarder is combined will have topull the movable board of the retarder away from the fixed board againstpneumatic suction or the resistance offered to the inflow of air intothat retarder through the opening 0 under control of the automatic valve0 Thus the action which the corresponding motor B would impart to suchstriker is modified by devices controlledindependently of the motors B,and variations of expression may thus 'be produced in playing. Thedevices for retarding motion of strik- 5 ers in the direction to operatethe keys of a j'musical instrument might be described as devices adaptedto produce legato effects. Instead of using such devices as retard'ersthey might be used to increase and so accentuate IO the force of thestrikers in acting upon the keys. Where pneumatic devices are thusemployed in direct combination with the strikers, but for the purpose ofincreasing the force of the strikers, the valves would 0f course have tobe modified, so as to alternately'establish communication between thepneumatics and the atmosphere, on the one hand, and a source ofdifferent pneumatic pressure which could advantageously be cstablishedeither by suction or force bellows. 7 By the term modifying devices Imean to include retarding devices which are modifying devices opposingthe action of the ordinary pneumatics, and I also mean to include othermodifying devices which will add to or supplement the force of theordinary pneumatics, because with either of these kinds of devices theaction of the strikers will be modified.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with. strikers for operating the keys of a musicalinstrument, of pneumatic retarders each provided with two valves, oneoperating automatically and the other being manually controlled.

2. The combination with strikers and means for actuating them, ofretarders acting directly upon said strikers, and both automatic valvesand manual means for controlling the operation of the retarders.

3. The combination with strikers and means for actuating the same, ofpneumatics for modifying the action of the strikers, each of saidpneumatics being provided with both automatic and manually-controlledvalves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT WIL LIARD PAIN.

Witnesses:

OWEN WARD, CLARENCE R. COMES.

